Young Robots Records, home to local acts The Downtown Club, Nicos Gun, Instamatic and others, will release a limited edition vinyl EP on March 1st. Taking a selection of cuts originally released on the label’s Philadelphia Maneto compilation, the new wax run will includes original songs from the bands mentioned above alongside remixes by label boss DJ Apt One. A release show and party will be held at Creep Records in the Piazza on March 1st with appearances by The Downtown Club and DJ Apt One. Admission to the event includes a hand-numbered copy of the EP and can be purchased here. Check out Philadelphia Maneto below.

Go to any show with The Downtown Club on the bill, and you might have a few off-the-bat impressions about them.

Maybe you notice their black clothes, straight faces and post-punk aesthetic – a feel that runs deeper than their music and right through the Gang of Four-esque on-stage foot tapping. And then there’s the music – dark and minor-key-heavy, their reverb-drenched vocals and dance-inducing rhythms paint the picture of the transitioning (or transitioned, depending on who you ask) Fishtown they call home. Are they New York exiles, trying to keep the momentum of The Rapture or Interpol alive in another city? Or maybe they’re Temple students, obsessed with the early-80s Golden Age of New Wave and trying to make rock ‘n roll dreams come true? Hell, they even put the word “Club” in their name!

But, spend a few moments in their collective headspace – whether it’s listening to their perfectly executed Key Studio Sessions or chatting up the extremely non-pretentious band members after a show – and you’ll realize just how boneheaded your assumptions were. This trio of late-20s/mid-30s (yeah, they just look 10 years younger) native Philadelphians paint a picture of the changing Fishtown precisely because they’ve been around through all that change.

“I used to come to Fishtown when I was in high school. You came down here to get drugs, get into fights, to fuck up your life. Fishtown was bad,” recounts lead singer/guitarist/keyboardist April Harkanson, a Frankford native. “It’s just crazy, how this neighborhood’s changed so much, and that I’m still living here. It’s been a really interesting thing, watching this city grow.” Continue reading →

Philly duo Pattern is Movement brings their high-pitched vocals and dynamic blend of keyboards, vocals and drums to Union Transfer tonight. Gaining notable recognition for their recent cover of D’Angelo’s “Unititled (How Does it Feel),” the group is getting ready to release its fourth album (and first since 2008). Their single “Suckling” is reminiscent of what James Blake would sound like blended with organ-like keyboard vamps and drums. Their music is like nothing out there, and the show is sure to be a treat. Get tickets here. Below, listen to “Suckling.”

Red Bull Sound Select is presenting a night of indie pop at Boot & Saddle on October 24th. The line-up was curated by Making Time and features DRGN King, Cruiser and The Downtown Club supporting West Coast electro-pop group YACHT. Operating as a monthly showcase, Red Bull Sound Select pairs up and coming local acts with established bands chosen by local curators. This month’s event is free with an RVSP, which you can do here. Check out videos of the bands below. Revisit DRGN King’s Key Studio Session here, and The Downtown Club’s Key Studio Session here.

Unlocked explored Lantern‘s new album Rock ‘N’ Roll Rorschach this week. “Evil Eye,” taken from the LP, boasts a killer baritone sax part and dance-worthy percussion. Check out the full Unlocked feature here and download “Evil Eye” below.

Local singer-songwriter Emmett Drueding and producer Grave Goods have merged to become Emmett Drueding & the Cowboy Killa. The first product of this collaboration is “Area 51,” a raw and twangy track accented with a strong and upfront beat. Stream and download the song below.

It’s 4th of July again, and that means another 4th of July Jam at the Parkway. Aside from the free food and events throughout the day, there’s an amazing lineup of musicians that you can see for free. The list includes John Mayer, Jill Scott, Ne-Yo, Grace Potter, J. Cole, Ben Taylor, Marsha Ambrosius and of course The Roots. All of this hosted by comedian Kevin Hart.

If you get an early start, there’s even a second stage for up-and-coming artists – dubbed The Questlove Stage – featuring Gliss, Chill Moody, and more. As far as price and lineup go, you can’t get much better than this. All you have to do is show up at the Ben Franklin Parkway. And who knows what kinds of surprises The Roots might have in store. At their Roots Picnic, Meek Mill did a guest appearance during their set. Last year at the 4th of July Jam, soul singer / rapper Lauryn Hill surprised the crowd with a blistering appearance. Watch video of Hill and the Roots below.

This summer, the local Young Robots label is bringing remixes of some of your favorite Philly bands as part of a compilation called Philadelphia Maneto. Each track will be remixed mainly by electronic artist DJ Apt One (along with help from a few other artists) and released as a single for digital-download and on vinyl, all culminating in a July 18th Philadelphia Race Street Pier Concert. Artists include Nicos Gun, The Downtown Club and Pink Skull. Today we’ve got a free download from The Downtown Club, a dark dance triowho recently recorded a Key Studio Session. The track, “Dance,” is full of dramatic synths, echoing guitars and smooth vocals, and the remix is a rager – but you’ll have to wait to hear that one. For now, get a free download of the original version of the song below and check out the music video here. You can also check out the band at Ortlieb‘s July 4th, and stay tuned for more on Philadelphia Maneto in the coming weeks.

This week’s Key Studio Session brought in a long set from The Downtown Club. Dark and broody, the trio recorded a mix of old and new songs – they’ll be releasing an EP in August. Stream and download “Victoria” below and get the full six-track set here.

About The Key

Philadelphia: Home to a rich musical history, a unique musical identity, and one of the nation's most thriving musical communities. In a scene filled with so many local bands worth listening to, there will always be new music to discover—and The Key is your source for finding it. Brought to you by WXPN—the non-commercial public radio station that World Cafe, XPN2, and XPoNential Music Festival call home—The Key covers all local music in Greater Philly and beyond.GET IN TOUCH

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About The Key

Philadelphia: Home to a rich musical history, a unique musical identity, and one of the nation's most thriving musical communities. In a scene filled with so many local bands worth listening to, there will always be new music to discover—and The Key is your source for finding it. Brought to you by WXPN—the non-commercial public radio station that World Cafe, XPN2, and XPoNential Music Festival call home—The Key covers all local music in Greater Philly and beyond.GET IN TOUCH